2011 Undervalued Sleepers – Tight Ends

Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis was finally used as a focal point in the passing game, and became a starter for fantasy owners on a weekly basis. While the tight end position doesn’t produce as many sleeper options as receiver or running back, you can still find a few possible breakout options every year.

Below I have selected those tight ends I feel are undervalued sleepers coming into the 2011 fantasy football season, and I’ve included their up to date ADP values as taken from Mock Draft Central and Fantasy Football Calculator, for both PPR and standard redraft leagues. This way you can get an idea of where each runner is falling in recent mock drafts, and in understanding this you can start to set your game plan up for those options below, you want to target, and where you believe you can get them.

We witnessed what Fred Davis could do on the field without Chris Cooley around back in the later part of the 2009 season. Now, Cooley is struggling to rehab a knee injury that is likely to cost him some game time at some point this season. Keep an eye on Cooley’s status as we get ready for the season, because Davis would be worth starting if Cooley misses time.

Aaron Hernandez -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

154.1

170.85

Standard Redraft ADP Value

152.9

179.50

Tom Brady is reportedly on fire in training camp already and Aaron Hernandez will be one of the players who benefits if the Patriots star quarterback has another MVP season. It took Brady a couple of years after his ACL tear at the start of the 2009 season, to return to his former dominance, but he’s back and Hernandez is worth holding onto in at least 12 team leagues or deeper.

Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski had a healthy rookie season, but he does have a track record for health problems. If something should happen to Gronkowski, it would be Hernandez that would see an up tick in production at this position, and would make for a weekly starter in that situation.

Ed Dickson / Dennis Pitta -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

NA

NA

Standard Redraft ADP Value

NA

NA

With Todd Heap out of the picture (with the Cardinals), the battle for the starting tight end job in Baltimore is going to be a good one this preseason. Ed Dickson is the favorite to win the job, but Pitta was very impressive in the first week of the preseason as Dickson was out because of a minor injury.

Someone is going to have fantasy value out of this situation and fantasy owners need to keep an eye on which one steps up to win the job. Don’t be surprised if both are on the waiver wire to begin the season, but the starter will be picked up at some point before October.

Kevin Boss -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

210.11

NA

Standard Redraft ADP Value

209.94

NA

The Raiders are desperate for someone to step up and fill the void left by Zach Miller in the offense. Miller was arguably the only possession receiver in for this team a year ago, and Kevin Boss stands to benefit with a high reception total as far as tight ends go. You can get Boss cheep, but he’s worth a look at stashing late in your draft as a depth option.

Brent Celek -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

184.18

122.1

Standard Redraft ADP Value

188.57

116.2

This off-season the Eagles tight end Brent Celek was bulking up to be more of a blocking tight end as the Eagles were looking to up their protection for Michael Vick. That basically was a death blow to Celek as a fantasy relevant player, but with the recent troubles of Jeremy Maclin, the team has talked about Celek begin a bigger part of the offense.

Don’t look to Celek as a player to target on draft day, but if Maclin and veteran Steve Smith should have a hard time getting on the field with regularity, Celek would make for a nice waiver wire pickup.

Greg Olsen -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

186.51

150.4

Standard Redraft ADP Value

NA

139.1

The Panthers should use Greg Olsen as the No.2 option in the passing game and arguably, the best possession player Cam Newton or Jimmy Clausen can go to. Sure, Steve Smith is still around, but you quarterback typically want to find that big target in the passing game as a go to option and Oslen can provide that.

Wait until the Panthers can prove to actually move the ball with the passing game before you take a waiver flair on Olsen, but he’s a name to remember during the season.

Lance Kendricks -

MDC

FFC (12 tm)

PPR League ADP Value

209.32

NA

Standard Redraft ADP Value

209.88

NA

The hype only got bigger for rookie Lance Kendricks after Sam Bradford found him for an early touchdown in the teams first preseason game. While I think, Kendricks is another year away from begin an option to target in fantasy drafts, the kid could have some value if Bradford proves he can take another step in his progression as a quarterback, and Kendricks can win a starting job.